FREE RADICALS AND ANTIOXIDANTS IN THE BRAIN CELLS: AN EXPOSÉ

A needful interaction occurs between two different species of reactive molecules know as free radicals and antioxidants in the blood and body fluid. The free radicals are destructive while the antioxidants are both protective and restorative.

The free radicals such as hydrogen ions are charged molecules released as a result of certain metabolic processes in various cells of the body, most importantly, the brain. These free radicals in the body 'fly' around like unguided missiles seeking to interact with other compatible reactive species to get neutralized. In the absence of antioxidants, the option left for them is the cell walls of the body cells. This kind of reaction is destructive as it collapses  the cell walls (cytoskeleton) by reacting with the phospholipid bilayer of the cell walls, causing the untimely ageing of the cells - brain cells are the worst hit. This process is directly linked to some of the very common brain diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, amnesia, stroke and so on.

Antioxidants are substances in the blood and body fluid that have high affinity for the highly charged free radicals, which help in mopping them up very fast by reacting with them to form neutral (harmless) species that can be easily removed from the internal body environment through excretion (eg through urine). By implication antioxidants are antidotes to free radical,and, hence, protect the body cells especially the neurons from damage caused by free radicals, or, even restores a diseased brain to a normal condition - a common achievement in the USA and Israel.

The interaction between antioxidants and free radicals can be demonstrated thus:

Antioxidant + Free radicals = Neutral (harmless) substance

Antioxidants obtained from foods. Therefore, adjusting your diet toward high amounts of antioxidants wouldn't be bad idea.

What gets the body ( particularly the brain) exposed to free radicals?

What are the sure sources of antioxidants?

 Check them out in subsequent posts.

Festus C. Anaba, B Med.